“U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday expressed doubts about the corruption convictions of former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell.

During the one-hour argument, several justices signaled that McDonnell’s action in taking $177,000 in gifts and loans from a businessman seeking to promote a dietary supplement did not constitute a criminal act. Chief Justice John Roberts went further, suggesting the statutes under which McDonnell was convicted could be so broad as to be unconstitutionally vague.”

The New York Times: Justices Weigh Corruption Case of Bob McDonnell, Ex-Governor of Virginia

“The Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed ready to side with Bob McDonnell, the former governor of Virginia who was convicted of public corruption and faces two years in prison. Justices across the ideological spectrum said the laws under which he had been convicted gave prosecutors too much power to convert routine political favors into forbidden corruption.”

Bloomberg: Supreme Court May Raise Bar for Corruption Prosecutions
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-04-27/u-s-high-court-may-raise-bar-for-corruption-prosecutions
“U.S. Supreme Court justices signaled they will make it harder to prosecute public officials for corruption, suggesting they will overturn former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s bribery conviction.”

Politico: Supreme Court justices appear to be leaning in McDonnell’s favor
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/supreme-court-justices-appear-to-be-leaning-in-mcdonnells-favor-222533#ixzz472k32fmj
“Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell had a surprisingly strong outing at the Supreme Court Wednesday, as majority of the court appeared to be leaning in the direction of overturning the corruption convictions a jury returned against him two years ago.

Two members of the court liberal wing — Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan — expressed serious concerns that the government’s stance could expose public officials to prosecution for all kinds of acts routinely performed for political donors. Breyer appeared particularly troubled that upholding the convictions would shift too much power to federal prosecutors.”

USA Today: High court appears likely to ease public corruption rules in McDonnell case
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/04/27/supreme-court-robert-mcdonnell-virginia-governor-corruption/83547198/
“The Supreme Court appeared likely to side with politicians over prosecutors Wednesday and rule that federal bribery and corruption laws are unfairly ensnaring public officials.”

The Virginian-Pilot: U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in former Gov. McDonnell’s appeal
http://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/virginia/u-s-supreme-court-hears-arguments-in-former-gov-mcdonnell/article_23aae5de-33da-5964-85bc-1d7d49e7e40e.html
“Although experts caution that questions by the justices should not be read as an indicator of how they’ll rule, the tone of questions was skeptical toward the government’s arguments.”